Welcome!

Welcome to the LibGuide created for students of Idea of the Theatre I at Butler. I'm happy to help you with locating various materials relating to the exploration of "the theory and practice of performance with a particular focus on the Indianapolis community" (as described in the 2013-2015 Butler Catalog). Please let me know when you have questions by contacting me via LibChat, phone, or e-mail (all listed to your right!). To navigate around this guide, click on thebluetabs at the top of this guide. Each tab represents a page of information!

Books in our Collection

Below are a few of the books in the Butler Libraries'collection related to the study of topics covered in Idea of the Theatre:

With the recent influx of A-list stars like Nicole Kidman, Kevin Spacey, and Matt Damon vying to perform on the London stage, never has the West End enjoyed such a high profile. This updated edition ofThe Great Theaters of Londonwith brand new sections on the Almeida, the Donmar Warehouse, Shakespeare’s Globe, the Young Vic, and moreis a timely celebration of the cultural history behind each of the great London theaters. Handsomely illustrated, and with AZ entries, this is the perfect book for the London visitor and theatergoer.

Everyone who loves theatre and is interested in the craft of acting will be fascinated by Mark Rafael's Telling Stories. This extraordinary book is full of information rarely available to us. By taking us inside the classrooms of some of the most important teachers of our times, he becomes, in effect, a master teacher. - Marian Seldes, ActressI found Telling Stories to be practical, insightful and I recommend it to be used for student actors and especially invaluable for professors and teachers of acting across a range of levels. - Diane Baker, Actress, Director of Acting School of Motion Picture & Television, Academy of Art UniversityTelling Stories: A Grand Unifying Theory of Acting Techniques is an essential resource for professional actors, acting students and teachers, or anyone who wants to better understand the evolution of modern acting theory. This guidebook provides a history of acting theories and training and describes techniques that enable an actor to inhabit a character. In the book are numerous acting exercises that illustrate each method, as well as advice on performing Shakespeare and on developing scripts.Telling Stories is an important addition to any theatrical library and can serve as the basis for acting and theater courses across a wide range of levels.MARK RAFAEL, an actor and educator, received his BA from Brown University and holds an MFA from the Yale School of Drama. He has also studied with teachers from the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art and the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art in London and was awarded a scholarship to the Michael Chekhov Studio in New York. He served as an assistant to Dr. Maria Piscator, widow of Erwin Piscator, and has worked extensively on the development of new scripts in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, and San Francisco. As an actor, he has performed in theatres across the country as well as in television and films, including James Cameron's Titanic. He currently lives and works in San Francisco with his wife and three children, where he teaches at the University of San Francisco and the Academy of Art University.

The Literary Theory Toolkit offers readers a rich compendium of key terms, concepts, and arguments necessary for the study of literature in a critical-theoretical context. Includes varied examples drawn from readily available literary texts spanning all periods and genres Features a chapter on performance, something not usually covered in similar texts Covers differing theories of the public sphere, ideology, power, and the social relations necessary for the understanding of approaches to literature

‘Scrupulously compiled and skillfully translated by Andrei Malaev-Babel,The Vakhtangov Sourcebook... provides the most comprehensive addition to English readers’ knowledge of the philosophy, pedagogy, and legacy of Vakhtangov.’ –Modern Language Review 'An exceptionally valuable book that promises to be the definitive reference for Vakhtangov's work for years to come.' – Theatre Topics Yevgeny Vakhtangov was the creator of Fantastic Realism, credited with reconciling Meyerhold’s bold experiments with Stanislavski’s naturalist technique. The Vakhtangov Sourcebookcompiles new translations of his key writings on the art of theatre, making it the primary source of first hand material on this master of theatre in the English speaking world. Vakhtangov’s essays and articles are accompanied by: Diary and Notebook excerpts His lectures to the Vakhtangov Studio In-depth accounts of Vakhtangov methods in rehearsal Production photographs and sketches Extensive bibliographies Director’s notes on key performances An extensive introductory overview from editor Andrei Malaev-Babel explains Vakhtangov‘s creative life, his groundbreaking theatrical concepts and influential directorial works.